by Bea Peterson
According to HACA Director Dianne Hosterman and HAYC3 coordinator Deb Alter, Empty Bowls was a success all around. “It was a wonderful community effort,” said Hosterman. “Special thanks to Megan Conner who had the inspiration for having this event in Hoosick Falls and got the bowls made, HAYC3 for hosting it and all the participants from the Girl Scouts, Jazz Band, Art Class, St. Mary’s Academy, Weeb’s, Bagels and Brew, First Baptist Church and others in the community. It has been a tough winter for those we serve, and this will really make a difference.”
[private]Alter said, “Once again HAYC3 partnered with other community groups for the benefit of Hoosick. HAYC3 staff and volunteers coordinated the “moving parts” of the event, including organizing the details of how the event would look and how it would work successfully. The staff readied the spaces for the art, music and food, coordinated the serving and clean-up, ‘connecting the dots’ between HFCS, SMA, HACA and other community groups and restaurants.
Soups were made by folks at St. Mary’s Academy, the First Baptist Church, Weeb’s and Bagels & Brew Café. The bread was donated by Tops
Friendly Markets.”
“HAYC3 would especially like to thank the Art and Jazz Band students and their teachers, Ms. Megan Conner, Mr. Rob Viera and Mr. Bill Brown at Hoosick Falls High School, St. Mary’s Academy Middle School students, Mrs. Lisa Adrion, and Fr. Tom Zelker, Girl Scout Troop 1259 and Mrs. Christine Still. A special thanks goes to the members of the Hoosick Artists Guild for supporting student artists and their contributions to the event,” said Alter.
She added that it is important to acknowledge the role of the student artists and musicians in this event. Many of the students were willing to sell their artwork for the cause. Megan Conner donated a beautiful green-glazed soup tureen as a silent auction piece, and the Jazz Band always pulls in a crowd. Also, it is always exciting for students to see their work in a gallery; it is so very different from seeing their work on display in the school hallways and bulletin boards. Students also helped set up the show. They learned how to arrange all the work to each piece’s best advantage. The kids were not only proud to see their work hanging in a real gallery but to see art, their art, used to help the community. The Jazz Band sound was perfect for the Owl’s Nest acoustics and vice-versa, and the musicians were pleased to play to a mixed audience of old and young, regular followers and new fans.
From start to finish folks were lined up to choose a bowl and one of six varieties of soup. They filled the Owl’s Nest and the outside room. One hundred and seventy bowls were made for the event and, by the end of the evening, they were all gone and late-comers were disappointed to not be able to purchase one. The total raised from the event is unknown at this point, but Hosterman said, “We are grateful no matter what. Events like this do more than just raise money. They bring people together and raise an awareness of the needs of others.” [/private]